JOURNAL ARTICLE

The Brahmin and His Imaginary Friend: How a classic paean to the honest virtues of a Maine fisherman obscured several ugly truths.

  • Published In: American Scholar, 2025, v. 94, n. 1. P. 66 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: SMITH, JANNA MALAMUD 3 of 3

Abstract

The article from the American Scholar delves into the hidden history of the Gilley family, focusing on the criminal activities of brothers Elisha and Joseph Gilley in Maine during the 1840s. It contrasts this criminal behavior with the idealized portrayal of their younger brother, John Gilley, in a book by Charles W. Eliot. The article explores Eliot's background as a member of the Boston Brahmin elite and his efforts to romanticize the virtues of white Protestant families, while overlooking the complexities and contradictions of the Gilley family's life. The narrative also touches on the economic realities, government subsidies, and interdependence that shaped the lives of Maine fishermen during that era. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:American Scholar. 2025/01, Vol. 94, Issue 1, p66
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:0003-0937
  • Accession Number:182040966
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